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Simon sharp, but Reds can't hold lead against M's

Starter tosses three scoreless frames; Chapman allows run in two innings

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Price, Simon on Reds' 6-5 loss 2:09

3/3/14: Alfredo Simon talks about his three scoreless innings, while Bryan Price discusses Simon's outing and his use of Aroldis Chapman

By Mark Sheldon
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MLB.com |

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The Mariners committed four early errors with all of them resulting in Reds runs, but overcame them for a 6-5 split-squad victory at Goodyear Ballpark.

The game turned against Cincinnati in the top of the seventh when Chris Taylor hit a 2-0 pitch from Chad Rogers for a grand slam into the left-field bullpen.

Earlier in the day, it was all Reds. Following a leadoff bunt single in the third by Billy Hamilton and a single by Skip Schumaker, Joey Votto's RBI single toward second base made it a 1-0 game. Then the errors began to mount.

Brandon Phillips skied a popup above first base. Playing the position for the first time this spring, Logan Morrison dropped the ball for an error that allowed Schumaker to score.

In a bizarre play that followed, Chris Heisey grounded a ball to third baseman Nate Tenbrink. The ball was bobbled and after Tenbrink recovered, he muffed a one-bounce throw into the outfield to be charged with two errors on one play that scored Votto and Phillips for a 4-0 lead.

Erasmo Ramirez started for the Mariners and was charged with three runs (one earned) over 2 2/3 innings with no walks and two strikeouts.

Reds starter Alfredo Simon allowed one walk over three scoreless and hitless innings. Simon has yet to give up a hit in five innings over two starts.

Aroldis Chapman followed Simon with two innings. After a scoreless fourth, Chapman encountered two-out trouble in the fifth after getting a double play. Tenbrink reached on an infield hit and stole second base. Mike Zunino laced an RBI double down the right-field line.

Hamilton created another run for the Reds in the fifth after drawing a leadoff walk against Charlie Furbush. As Hamilton stole second base, catcher Jesus Sucre's throw went into center field to move the runner to third base. Hamilton scored on Schumaker's sacrifice fly in left-field foul territory.

In the sixth with one out against Rogers, Mariners starting shortstop candidate Brad Miller ripped a 0-1 pitch for a solo homer to right field.

"It's a funky game," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "It's not often that you don't make any errors and your opponent makes five and you still lose the game. We had an inning that got away from us. We couldn't take advantage of some of our scoring opportunities and do a lot later in the game."

Up next: With three hits in four at-bats in his three games, including a triple, right fielder Jay Bruce is off to a nice start of spring. Bruce is likely to return to the lineup when Cincinnati plays the Royals Tuesday at 3:05 p.m. ET in Surprise, Ariz, on Gameday Audio. Johnny Cueto will make his second start, with David Holmberg also expected to pitch.

Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Mark My Word, and follow him on Twitter @m_sheldon. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.